Russian Response to Georgian Protests: An Escalation Fueled by EU Candidate Status?

Georgia’s ongoing protests and Russia’s response to them have been deemed serious by Italian foreign policy institute ISPI, which closely monitors Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus. According to ISPI researchers, the escalation of the situation is being fueled by Georgia’s status as an EU candidate country. The riot police in Tbilisi used excessive force to break up the protests, resulting in arrests and injuries among protesters.

The underlying cause of the protests is a legal project proposed by the Georgian government that requires non-governmental organizations and other entities receiving at least 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to declare themselves as “agents of foreign powers.” This bill, considered contrary to European values, was previously attempted a year ago but was withdrawn due to protests. Additionally, Georgia’s EU candidate status has added to the tension, with the EU high representative for foreign policy condemning the use of force to suppress peaceful assembly in Georgia.

According to ISPI researchers, the bill has exacerbated an existing political crisis in Georgia, dividing the country between pro-European integration groups and an increasingly authoritarian populist government. The Kremlin has accused the West of stoking anti-Russian sentiment among Georgians and defended the controversial bill, attempting to delegitimize the protests and link them to Western influence.

Despite these challenges, Georgian civil society has demonstrated vitality and determination through their protests. ISPI researcher Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti emphasizes that it is important to watch how Russia describes these demonstrations and attempts to discredit protestors’ motives. However, she also notes that this complex situation remains with geopolitical ramifications and ongoing tensions between different factions within Georgia.